Cosart and Oberholtzer seal rotation spots

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Clear Creek High graduate Jarred Cosart will start the season as the Astros’ No. 2 starter, and lefthander Brett Oberholtzer will start the third game against the New York Yankees.

“Personally I’m a big (Derek) Jeter fan,” Cosart said. “That’s his going away deal. We’re kind of honoring him before the game. It will be a special day. Obviously I have a lot of friends and family at a lot of games.

“Like they told me last year, you only get one debut. You only get one first start of the year, so you try and go out to make it a memorable one so you have something to build on for the rest of the year.”

Veteran righthander Scott Feldman will start the opener on April 1 at Minute Maid Park. Cosart is 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA over four games this spring, and Oberholtzer is 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA two appearances (one start) in Grapefruit League action. He made his other two appearances in minor-league intrasquad games.

“We’re kind of going with the mindset we’re trying to start off on the right foot,” Cosart said. “So obviously that’d be to win a series. That’s our goal and we’ll go out there. I think we have the capability with Feldman, myself and Obie.

“We know what we’re up against all year in the AL. We got a glimpse with the Yankees. Obviously they went out and they want to win a World Series. That’s how they usually do it. They go out and buy guys.”

Cosart, 23, and Oberholtzer, 24, made their major league debuts last year. Cosart was 1-1 with a 1.95 ERA over 10 starts as a rookie. Oberholtzer was 4-5 with a 2.76 ERA over 13 appearances (10 starts) as a rookie.

Oberholtzer, who was named the Astros’ pitcher of the year in 2013, also was the first Astros rookie to throw a pair of complete games since Roy Oswalt in 2001.

“It’s a great opportunity for one, but it’s also an honor to be named as one of the five to break as an opening day (roster) starter,” Oberholtzer said. “I’ve wanted to make an opening day roster since I was young. It’s been a dream. It’s a dream come true. Hopefully I can continue the success that I had last year for many years to come.”